he behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias

Question 1

How does the behavioural approach explain phobias?

Answer 1

The two process model
Process 1 - classical conditioning
Process 2 - Operant conditioning

Question 2

What is process 1 of the 2 process model to explaining phobias?

Answer 2

Process 1 - classical conditioning

Question 3

What is process 2 of the 2 process model to explaining phobias?

Answer 3

Process 2 - operant conditioning

Question 4

What is classical conditioning and how does it explain phobias?

Answer 4

Classical conditioning involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear (called a neutral stimulus) with something that already triggers a fear response (an unconditioned stimulus).
It is how we acquire the phobia.

Question 5

What is operant conditioning and how does it explain phobias?

Answer 5

Learning through reinforcement. It is how we maintain the phobia.
Reinforcement tends to increase the frequency of a behaviour.

Question 6

What did Watson and Rayner do? (1990)

Answer 6

Created a phobia in a 9 month old baby called ‘Little Albert’.

Question 7

Describe what happened in the Little Albert study

Answer 7

When shown a white rat he tried to play with it. Then whenever the rat was presented to Albert the researches made a loud, frightening noise by banging an iron bar close to Albert’s ear.

Question 8

Describe in detail how Little Albert’s phobia was acquired

Answer 8

The noise is an UCS which creates an UCR of fear. When the rat (NS) and the UCS are encountered close together in time the NS becomes associated with the UCS and both now produce the fear response - Albert displayed fear when he saw a rat (the NS). The rat is now a learned or conditioned stimulus (CS) that produces a conditioned response (CR).

Question 9

What happened after Little Albert’s phobia was acquired?

Answer 9

This conditioning then generalised to similar objects. They tested Albert by showing him other objects e.g. a non-white rabbit, a fur coat etc. Little Albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these.

Question 10

How does operant conditioning lead to maintaining the phobia?

Answer 10

When the person moves away from the phobic stimulus their anxiety decreases. This is therefore negative reinforcement (removal of the unpleasant feeling of anxiety). We will continue to avoid the phobic stimulus, reinforcing the phobia.

Question 11

What 2 therapies are used by behaviourists to treat phobias?

Answer 11

Systematic Desensitisation

Flooding

Question 12

What do both therapies have in common?

Answer 12

• both are based on the 2 process model and aim to counter-condition the phobia.
• Therefore, they try to associate the object with relaxation instead of fear (linked to classical conditioning)
• They also make the person stay with the phobic stimulus, and avoid running away to prevent the negative reinforcement (linked to operant conditioning)

Question 13

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 13

A behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning. If a person can learn to relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus they will be cured. Essentially a new response to the phobic stimulus is learned (phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety). This learning of a different response is called counter-conditioning.

Question 14

What 3 processes are involved in Systematic Desensitisation?

Answer 14

1. The anxiety hierarchy
2. Relaxation
3. Exposure

Question 15

Explain the anxiety hierarchy

Answer 15

The anxiety hierarchy is constructed by the patient and the therapist. This is a list of situations related to the phobic stimulus that provoke anxiety in order from least to most frightening e.g. picture of a spider, spider in a box far away, spider in a box closer spider on arm.

Question 16

Explain Relaxation (SD)

Answer 16

The patient is trained in relaxation techniques, so that they can relax quickly and as deeply as possible e.g. meditation techniques, being taught to imagine themselves in a relaxing situation (on a beach) or breathing exercises.

Question 17

Explain exposure (SD)

Answer 17

The patient is then exposed to the phobic stimulus whilst practising the relaxation techniques as feelings of tension and anxiety rise. When this has been achieved with the first level of the hierarchy, the patient and therapist continue this process by moving up their hierarchy, one step at a time, relaxing at each step before moving on. Successful treatment is when they can stay relaxed in situations higher up the hierarchy.

Question 18

What is flooding?

Answer 18

Exposes the patient to their phobic stimulus without a gradual build up in hierarchy. It involves immediate exposure to a very frightening situation.

Question 19

Describe what happens in flooding

Answer 19

• Individual has their senses flooded with thoughts, images and actual experiences of the object of their phobia.
• Flooding stops phobic responses very quickly
• Without the option for avoidance behaviour, the patient quickly learns that the phobic stimulus is harmless - this process is called extinction.

Question 20

Describe the ethics of flooding

Answer 20

• Flooding is not unethical as patients give their informed consent so the know exactly what is involved.
• It is an unpleasant experience and a patient has to be properly prepared.
• A patient would normally be given the choice of systematic desensitisation or flooding.